Motor-car.



0. B. STEBBINS.

MOTOR OAR.

APPLICATION FILED DBO. 2, 1911. 1,032,633. Patented July 16, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. B. STEBBINS.

MOTOR GAR.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 2, 1911.

Patented July 16, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNTTED @TATES PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES B. STEBBINS, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO SHEFFIELDCAR COMPANY, OF THREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN.

MOTOR-CAR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1912.

Application filed December 2, 1911. Serial No. 663,503.

1 To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. STEBBINS, a citizen of the United.States, residing at Three Rivers, county of St. Joseph, and State ofMichigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in motor cars.

The main objects of this invention are, first, to provide in a motorcar, an improved mounting for the engine; second, to provide an improvedmotor car in which the axle of the traction wheels is adapted as a crankshaft for the engine; third, to provide in a motor car in which the axleof the traction wheels is adapted as a crank shaft for the engine, animproved engine and axle support whereby springing of the axle isprevented and lateral thrust received upon members adapted toeffectively withstand the same.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, willdefinitely appear from the detailed descriptionto follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and meansdescribed in the following specification.

The invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the claims.

A structure which is a preferred embodiment of my invention is clearlyilhistrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification, in which:

Figure I is a detail perspective view of a structure embodying thefeatures of my invention, the traction wheels only being shown, thegreater portion of the body being omitted and details only of, bodysills being shown. Fig. II is a detail longitudinal section of astructure embodying the fea tures of my invention, the body and enginesbeing illustrated mainly in conventional form. Fig. 111 is a detail viewpartially in' transverse vertical section taken on a line correspondingto line 33 of Fig. 11, the parts being shown mainly in conventionalform. Fig. 1V is a detail view partially in vertical section taken on aline corresponding to line l4: of Fig. V, showing details of the axleboxes and the bearings. Fig. V

is a detail view partially in section taken on a line corresponding toline 5-5 of Fig. IV.

In the drawing, similar reference charac-. ters refer to similar partsthroughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken lookingin the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the car illustrated is of the flat or work cartype, only such portions thereof being shown as are necessary toillustrate an embodiment of my invention.

The deck or body 1 may be of any suitable construction or designsuitable for the purpose of the car. The structure illus trated isprovided with three engines of the two cycle type. The axle 2 of thetraction wheels 3 is adapted as a crank shaft for these engines. Theengines are provided with crank casing 4 which are rigidly connected andprovided with bearings 5 for the axle 2. The engine cylinders (i and thecrank casings 4 are rigidly connected. The axle 2 extends through thecrank casings and is as stated, adapted as a crank shaft common to allof the engines. The axle boxes 7 are provided with bearing sleeves 8 forthe bearing rollers 9. These bearing sleeves are provided with flanges10 at their inner ends formed integrally with the sleeves and withroller retaining flanges 11 at their outer ends. The flanges 11 aresecured against rotation as by means of pins 12. The traction wheels 3are provided with tapered hubs 13 which receive the tapered portions l lof the axles. The wheels are clamped upon these tapered portions of theaxle by means of the nuts 15. Interposed between the inner ends of thehubs of the wheels and the bearing flanges 11 are washer-like thrustbearing members 16. The sleeves 8 are pro vided with laterallyprojecting ears 1.7 at their inner ends adapted to receive adjustingbolts 18 carried by ears 19 on the axle boxes 7 By these means, thesleeves can be adjusted to adjust the thrust members 16 and the thrustof the axle is sustained by the boxes. Guards 20 are provided for theouter ends of the sleeves S.

The boxes 7 are provided with upwardly projecting pedestals 21 on whichthe truss members 22 are mounted, suitable seats 23 being providedforthe members 22. The truss members 22 are arranged over the crankshaft, the central part of the truss members being preferably archedupwardly as shown. These truss members form a rigid connection for theboxes. A hanger rod 24 is supported between the members 22 by thebrackets 25, the brackets 25 forming tie members for the members 22 aswell as supports for the rod. The crank shaft casings are provided withhangers 26 through which the rod 24. is arranged, the hangers and thecrank shaft casings also constituting tie members for the axle and trussmembers. The longitudinal sills 27 of the body 1 are mounted upon seats28 provided therefor on the pedestals 21 of the axle boxes 7 The crosspieces 29 of the body rest upon the sills 27, the longitudinal pieces 30resting in turn upon the cross pieces 29. On these longitudinal pieces30 are supporting brackets 31 .for the hanger rod 32. The cylinders 6are provided with hangers 33 which slidably engage this rod 32,permitting lateral move ment of the body and engines relatit e to eachother. This movement is, under ordinary circumstances, slight, but issufficient to allow for springing of the body or deck on account of loador from other causes.

It will be observed that the body is supported on the axle boxesentirely independent of the members 22 on which the engines are rigidlymounted and which members 7 serve as a truss to prevent springing of theaxle 2. This is a highly important feature where the axle is adapted asa crank shaft.

Further, the thrust on the axle is taken through the boxes which arerigidly con-- nected by the means described so that the em gines movewith the axle ,and there is no thrust strain on the engine cranks.

The structural details of the engines are not here described as theyform no part of my present invention.

A timer device 34 is mounted on the axle, that is, the axle also servesas a timer shaft, but as the details of this timer device form no partof my present invention, I do not give a detailed description thereofherein.

I have illustrated and described my improvements in the preferred formin which I have up to this time, embodied them. I am aware however, thatvery great variation in structure is possible and I desire to beunderstood as claiming my improvements specifically in the formillustrated as well as broadly within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is: a

1. In a motor car, the combination with a car body comprisinglongitudinal sills, of a pluralityof engines comprising cylinders andcrank casings, the crank casings being rigidly connected to thecylinders and to each other; traction wheels; an axle for said tractionwheels arranged through said crank casings and adapted as acrank shaftfor said engines, said crank casings being provided with bearings forsaid axle; axle boxes; longitudinally adjustable bearing sleevesarranged in said boxes; thrust bearing mem bers between said adjustablesleeves and wheels; a pair of truss members mounted on said axle boxes,said truss members being offset upwardly above said engines, said boxesbeing provided with steps or seats for said truss members and saidlongitudinal body sills a hanger rod arranged between said trussmembers; supporting brackets for said rod arranged between said trussmembers and constituting tie members therefor; hangers on said crankshaft casings engaging said rod, said crank casings and hangersconstituting tie members between said axle and truss members; a hangerrod on said body; and hangers on said engine cylinders slidably mountedon said hanger rod on said body.

2. In a motor car, the combination with a car body, of a plurality ofengines comprising cylinders and crank casings, the crank casings beingrigidly connected to the cylinders and to each other; traction wheels;an axle for said traction wheels arranged through said crank casings andadapted as a crank shaft for said engines, said crank casings beingprovided with bearings for said axle; axle boxes, said body beingmounted on said axle boxes; a pair of truss members mounted on said axleboxes; a hanger rod arranged between said truss members; supportingbrackets for said rod arranged between said truss members andconstituting tie members therefor; hangers on said crank shaft casingsengaging said rod, said crank casings and hangers constituting tiemembers between said axle and truss members; a hanger rod on said body;and hangers on said engine cylinders slidably mounted on said hanger rodon said body.

3. In a motor car, the combination of a plurality of engines comprisingcylinders ,and crank casings, the crank casings being rigidly connectedto the cylinders and to each other; traction wheels; an axle for saidtract-ion wheels arranged throughsaidcrank casings and adapted as acrank shaft for said engines, said crank casings being provided withbearings for said axle; axle boxes; a pair of truss members mounted ,onsaid axle boxes; a hanger rod arranged between said truss members;supporting brackets for said rod arranged between said truss members andconstituting tie members therefor; and hangers 011 said crank shaftcasings engaging said rod, said crank casings and hangers constitutingtie members between said axle and truss members.

4;. In a motor car, the combination with a car body, of an enginecomprising a cylin der and a crank casing; traction wheels; an axle forsaid traction wheels arranged through said crank casing and adapted as acrank shaft for said engine, said crank casing being provided withbearings for said axle; axle boxes, said body being mounted on said axleboxes; a pair of truss members mounted on said axle boxes above saidaxle; a hanger rod arranged between said truss members; supportingbrackets for said rod arranged between said truss members; a hanger onsaid crank shaft casing engaging said rod; a hanger rod on said body;and a hanger on said engine cylinder slidably mounted 011 said hangerrod on said body.

5. In a motor car, the combination of an engine comprising a cylinderand a crank casing; traction wheels; an axle for said traction wheelsarranged through said crank casing and adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine, said crank casing being provided with bearings for said axle;axle boxes; a pair of truss members mounted on said axle boxes abovesaid axle; a hanger rod arranged between said truss members; supportingbrackets for said rod arranged between said truss members; and a hangeron said crank shaft casing engaging said rod.

6. In a motor car, the combination of a plurality of engines comprisingcylinders and crank casings, the crank casings being rigidly connectedto the cylinders and to each other; traction wheels; an axle for saidtraction wheels arranged through said crank casings and adapted as acrank shaft for said engines, said crank casings being provided withbearings for said axle; axle boxes, said body being mounted on said axleboxes; a truss member mounted on said axle boxes; and hangers on saidcrank shaft casings, said crank'casings and hangers constituting tiemembers between said axle and truss member.

7. In a motor car, the combination of an engine comprising a crankcasing; tract-ion wheels; an axle for said traction wheels arrangedthrough said crank casing and adapted as a crank shaft for said engine,said crank casing being provided with bearings for said axle; axleboxes; axle thrust bearing members supported by said boxes; a trussmember mounted on said boxes; and a hanger on said crank shaft casingdepend ing from said truss member, said hanger and crank shaft casingconstituting a tie member for said axle and truss member.

8. In a motor car, the combination of an engine comprising a crankcasing; traction wheels; an axle for said traction wheels arrangedthrough said crank casing and adapted as a crank shaft for said engine,said crank casing being provided with bearings for said axle; axleboxes; a truss member mounted on said boxes; and a hanger on said crankshaft casing depending from said truss member, said hanger and crankshaft casing constituting a tie member for said axle and truss member.

9. In a motor car, the combination of an engine comprising a crankcasing; traction wheels; an axle for said traction wheels arangedthrough said crank casing and adapted as a crank shaft for said engine,said crank casing being provided with bearings for said axle; axleboxes; a truss member mounted on said boxes; a hanger on said crankshaft casing depending from said truss member, said hanger and crankshaft casing constituting a tie member for said axle and truss member; abody mounted on said boxes; and a body hanger adapted to permit movementof said engine and body relative to each other.

10. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; anaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; thrust bearing members for said axle supported by saidboxes; and a truss member extending between said axle boxes, said enginebeing mounted on said truss member and body, the connection for. saidengine to said truss member being rigid, the connection for said engineto said body being adapted to permit movement of the engine and bodyrelative to each other.

11. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; anaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; thrustbearing members for said axle supported by said boxes;and a truss member extending between said axle boxes, said engine'beingrigidly connected to said truss member.

' 12. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; anaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; a body mounted on said axle boxes; thrust bearing membersfor said axle supported by said boxes; and a truss member extendingbetween said axle boxes, said engine being rigidly connected to saidtruss member.

18. In a motor car, the combination of an engine comprising a crankshaft casing; tract-ion wheels; an axle for said traction wheelsarranged through said crank casing and adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine, said crank casing being provided with bearings for said axle;axle boxes; a member connecting said boxes, said crank shaft casingbeing rigidly connected to said member; longitudinally adjustablebearing sleeves arranged in said boxes; and thrust bearing memberssupported by said boxes.

14. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; anaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; thrust bearing members for said axle, supported by saidboxes; at body mounted on said axle boxes; and a connecting member forsaid axle boxes, said engine being rigidly connected to said member andbeing connected to said body to permit movement of the engine and bodyrelative to each other.

15. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; anaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; thrust bearing members for said axle, supported by saidboxes; and a connecting member for said axle boxes, said engine beingrigidly connected to said member.

16. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaftfor saidengine; axle boxes; a body mounted on said axle boxes; and a rigidengine supporting member mounted on said boxes, said engine beingrigidly connected to said supporting member.

17. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; a body mounted on said axle boxes; thrust bearingmembers for said axle supported by said boxes; and a rigid axle trussmember extending between said axle boxes, said engine being rigidlyconnected to said supporting member.

18. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; a body mounted on said axle boxes; a crank casinghaving bearings for said axle; and a supporting member to which saidcrank casing is connected, mounted on said axle boxes and extendingbetween the same above the axle.

19. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; and a rigid supporting member for said enginemounted upon and extending between said axle boxes, said engine beingrigidly connected to said supporting member.

20. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; a truss member extending between said axle boxes; acrank casing for said engine having bearings for said axle; and rigidconnections for said casing to said truss member, said rigid connectionsand easing constituting tie members between said axle and truss member.

21. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; and a truss member extending between said axleboxes, said engine being rigidly connected to said truss member.

22. In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; arigid axle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for saidengine; axle boxes; a truss member extending between said axle boxes,said engine being rigidly connected to said truss member, saidconnect-ion being provided with bearing members engaging the axleadjacent to the engine.

In a motor car, the combination of an engine; traction wheels; a rigidaxle for said traction wheels adapted as a crank shaft for said engine;axle boxes; a truss member extending between said axle boxes, therebeing a rigid connection for said engine to said truss member; and a tieconnection between said axle and truss member whereby said axle issupported.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presenceof two witnesses.

ARTHUR P. CoTTLE, ORLEY R. BAIRD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

